sprucegoose Posted October 14, 2004 Report Share Posted October 14, 2004 I know my 93 Eldorado Sport Coupe has the FE2 option from the list supplied with the car, but what exactly are the differences here? I bought a set of used rear OEM shocks off Ebay from a 93 Eldo, but don't know what option that car had. They appear to be the same as mine from the photo, but I'm thinking there was a different option for a little sportier handling in the ESC than the base Eldo for example... I know I am taking a big chance on used shocks here, but I got them for next to nothing compared to new. I'm a pretty good bargain hunter, and I figure they can't be any worse than what is on mine now! 183K on original suspension is crazy! '09 Cadillac CTS-4 3.6 direct injection, 128 K mi. '15 Chevy Tahoe LTZ, 5.3i V8, 125 K mi '70 Firebird Formula 400, Bored+.04, RAIII heads, M21 4spd., in-process restoration! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Logan Posted October 14, 2004 Report Share Posted October 14, 2004 FE1, FE2 etc...typically the higher the #....the stiffer the suspension. This can involve spring rates, shock rates, and specfic bushing rates. And of course, factory tire selection. My personal feeling is by the time you hit 50-60K miles. Everything has loosened up so much you wont notice any real difference anyway...much less a suspension that has 180k. Logan Diagnostic LLC www.airbagcrash.com www.ledfix.com www.ledfix.com/yukontaillightrepair.html www.ledfix.com/ledreplacements.html www.ledfix.com/j42385toolrental.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stwjet Posted October 14, 2004 Report Share Posted October 14, 2004 I have a 95' ETC with around 105K on it but just had the warranty Co. replace the lower end of the eng. brand newplus doing the heads. My thought is I may keep it a bit longer. What can I do to get a bit better handling performance out of the ETC?, and where do I obtain the goods at decent prices. Thanks a bunch Stwjet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprucegoose Posted October 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 Well, my used shocks arrived... and yes, I am a little concerned. One looked/felt prety decent for a used shock, but the other was wet and stiff in the action. I pulled it up to it's extended position, and when I pushed down on it a steam of water shot out of the connection for the air line! It wasn't real dirty/rusty, just a little discolored, but how the hell did water get in there? Is it possible that the air pump had been accumulating condensation, and over the years been pumping it into the shock air bag? Maybe if the things were sitting out in the rain once the line was disconnected... I did manage to pump it all out, about 3-4 oz. maybe, but it doesn't act/feel like the other shock. I'm pretty sceptical about putting them on of course. When I push down and let go on the other one, it rebounds slowly to about 1/2 way up the 3" travel. With the wet one, it barely moves 1/2" up from the bottom position. Looking at the part no's, these are 22139546. According to gmpartsdirect.com's catalog for a 93, there was two choices: 22064565 (standard) and 220645579 (Heavy duty) Will have to look at the ones on my car tomorrow, and see what they say (if I can read through the rust!) I'm just looking for opinions on how that water could have got in there, and what it would do to the shock. Any way to test these things to see if they leak air without going thru the whole install process? '09 Cadillac CTS-4 3.6 direct injection, 128 K mi. '15 Chevy Tahoe LTZ, 5.3i V8, 125 K mi '70 Firebird Formula 400, Bored+.04, RAIII heads, M21 4spd., in-process restoration! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprucegoose Posted October 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 That was supposed to read "stream of water shot out" I was just thinking, I wonder if the guy I bought these from put them under water while pumping air in them... You know, to test for leaks in the air bags? I noticed that the rubber is a little cracked up around the bottom rim. Mine are a little cracked like this too, but they seem to be holding air fine. '09 Cadillac CTS-4 3.6 direct injection, 128 K mi. '15 Chevy Tahoe LTZ, 5.3i V8, 125 K mi '70 Firebird Formula 400, Bored+.04, RAIII heads, M21 4spd., in-process restoration! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprucegoose Posted October 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 Got my Eldo up on the jackstands now, and there is no way I'm findind any part no's there... I forgot how bad these things looked! I'm soaking the nuts with Kroil right now, the Torx fittings on the top were totally plugged with crud! I'll be amazed if I can get the top nut off without stripping the theads in that nut, and I need at least one of them as the seller only supplied me with one... I have to pull off at least one, curiousity is killing me. They have to be in worse operating cond. than the ones I bought. Will probably get the time to do this tomorrow... after the Packer game of course! '09 Cadillac CTS-4 3.6 direct injection, 128 K mi. '15 Chevy Tahoe LTZ, 5.3i V8, 125 K mi '70 Firebird Formula 400, Bored+.04, RAIII heads, M21 4spd., in-process restoration! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprucegoose Posted October 25, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 OK, project is done... I couldn't wait anymore, once I found out that the Packers-Cowboys game was the late game, I got busy! Pulled my shocks and found that they were in worse shape than the ones that I bought, and they had some moisture in them as well! So in with the new "used" ones and down the road testing in about 3 hrs. total. Did spend quite a bit of time getting that top nut off both sides, they were really rusted on tight. Plenty of propane torch time there... Seems to ride nicer now, little less bounce. Will definitely need front ones replaced though, that is where I really have the bouce/pound when I hit bumps! '09 Cadillac CTS-4 3.6 direct injection, 128 K mi. '15 Chevy Tahoe LTZ, 5.3i V8, 125 K mi '70 Firebird Formula 400, Bored+.04, RAIII heads, M21 4spd., in-process restoration! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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